It bothers them more people do not show off love of country

A house on Kensington Road in Brighton Township stands out among the rest.

Red, white and blue lights strung around a 50-foot blue spruce, American flags and other patriotic decorations can be seen from the road pretty much every day of the year.

Terry and Linden Adams keep the tree lights up all year to show their patriotism, and the inside of their home is also decked out in things like Uncle Sam statues and other patriotic themes.

"People call it the red, white and blue house," Linden Adams said.

A home on Kensington Road in Brighton Township proudly represents the nation's colors.(Photo: Terry Adams)

Terry Adams surprised his wife with the tree lights in 2011, and they have been up ever since. He said he did it to cheer her up after their dog Sadie passed away.

"Everyone knows us for having our lights on all year. They probably think we're crazy, but it is not a Christmas tree. It's a patriotic tree," he said.

He said it bothers them that more people do not deck out their homes in flags and other shows of patriotism.

"This is the greatest country on earth. Why wouldn't you want to display that?" he asked.

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Terry Adams and his wife Linden are staunch supporters of America, as is evidenced anywhere in or around their Brighton Township home. Terry holds their Chihuahua/pomeranian mix named Bonnie.(Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

"This country doesn't have enough people who love their country. A lot of flags went up after 9/11, but what I've seen is a big backsliding. ... People need to get back on track and get emotional about their country again," he said.

Linden Adams, who has been collecting patriotic items throughout her life, said it disappoints her that more people do not display their love of country with flags or other decorations.

"I think people in this country have let us down," she said.

However, people express their appreciation to the couple.

She said people driving by stop to take a look at the house.

"We've gotten thank-you letters," she said.

One recent letter came from a veteran, which the couple really appreciated.

They said both of their fathers served in the U.S. armed forces.

Terry Adams said he grew up a "Navy brat" on a base in Rhode Island and that his father was in the Korean War. He said his father served as a naval aviator who flew aircrafts that searched for submarines.

Linden Adams said her father served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

One down side is "a big electric bill, because she wants me to keep (the lights) on all year round," Terry Adams said.

If he had to guess, he said he has likely spent at least $1,000 on keeping the tree lit over the years.

Contact Livingston Daily county and townships reporter Jennifer Eberbach at 517-548-7148 or at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenTheWriter.